IEEE British and Irish Conference on Optics and Photonics (BICOP) 2026
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IEEE British and Irish Conference on Optics and Photonics (BICOP) 2026
The IEEE British and Irish Conference on Optics and Photonics (BICOP) returns in December 2026 as a leading forum for the photonics community across the UK and Ireland. Building on the success of earlier editions, the conference will bring together researchers, engineers, industry leaders, and students to share advances, exchange ideas, and build new collaborations.
The two‑day programme will feature invited keynote speakers, contributed technical talks, and a student poster session covering a wide range of topics, including optical communications, quantum photonics, sensing, imaging, and emerging applications linked to climate and sustainability. Dedicated industry sessions will highlight real‑world challenges and opportunities, creating strong links between research and application.
BICOP 2026 will place a clear focus on inclusion and diversity within the photonics community. The event will actively support the participation of women in photonics, with contributions and engagement from IEEE Women in Engineering, alongside dedicated networking opportunities.
Whether you are an established expert, an early‑career researcher, or a student entering the field, BICOP 2026 offers an opportunity to connect with the community, present your work, and contribute to the future of photonics in the region.
Date and Time
Location
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- One Birdcage Walk
- London, England
- United Kingdom SW1H9HP
- Building: The Institute of Mechanical Engineers
- Click here for Map
Speakers
Dr. Richard Pitwon of Resolute Photonics
Biography:
Dr. Richard Pitwon is a director, technologist and engineer with more than 18 years transformational expertise in optical and photonic system interconnect, integration and architectures for data centre, IoT and data-communications applications.
- Extensive experience in managing international, multi-million dollar collaborative research and development programmes, skilled in building multi-disciplinary teams to deliver advanced system solutions and coordinating across multiple geographies.
- Holds 51 patents, authored over 45 peer-reviewed publications including 4 international standards and given over 60 public talks.
Chartered Engineer (CEng), Fellow of the IET (FIET), Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP).
Dr. Lee Crudgington of OneTouch Technology
Biography:
Dr. Lee Crudgington is Director of Business Development at OneTouch Technology.
- Dr. Crudgington is a photonics research scientist and active IEEE volunteer with expertise in silicon photonics, optical communication systems, and integrated photonic circuits.
- Lee earned a PhD in Solar Energy Technology from the University of Southampton and conducted research at its Optoelectronics Research Centre, contributing to publications in areas such as RF-photonics and optical signal processing;
- Lee has co-authored work in leading journals including Nature Communications; professionally, he works in the photonics industry, bridging research and commercial applications.
Dr Filipe Marques Ferreira of University College London
Biography:
Dr Filipe Marques Ferreira is a Principal Research Fellow and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow in the Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering at University College London.
His research focuses on next-generation optical fibre communication technologies for high-capacity, energy-efficient networks, including data centre interconnects, massive spatial parallelism, spatial light modulation, and machine learning.
He is a Senior Member of IEEE and Chair of the IEEE UK & Ireland Photonics Society Chapter.
Agenda
Selected Topics for BICOP 2026 Include:
- Optics for AI and Hyperscale
- Photonic Integrated Circuits
- Photonic packaging
- Co-packaged Optics (CPO)
- Optics for Space, Quantum and Cryogenics
- Metamaterials
- Plasmonics
- Quantum communication
- Quantum computation
- Quantum imaging and metrology
- Lasers and Sensors
- Manufacturing, Assembly and Test